Microwave powered UV lamp with improved RF gasket arrangement

Abstract

The present invention is a microwave excited lamp and a microwave gasket. A microwave excited lamp ( 10 ) in accordance with the invention includes at least one microwave source ( 12 ); a microwave structure ( 20 ) comprising a metallic material to which microwaves are coupled from the microwave source; the microwave structure, including a reflector ( 22 ) comprising the metallic material and containing a microwave excited bulb ( 24 ) which emits light in response to coupling of microwave power thereto from the microwave source; and at least one microwave gasket ( 100 ) which provides a microwave tight seal between a surface of the reflector and at least one other metallic part of the microwave structure with the gasket comprising the metallic material; and wherein during operation of the lamp a microwave current maxima flows on a surface of the gasket and the reflector.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A microwave excited lamp comprising: 
       a microwave source;  
       a microwave structure including a reflector comprising a metallic material and containing a microwave excited bulb which emits light in response to coupling of microwave power thereto from the microwave source; and  
       at least one microwave gasket which provides a microwave tight seal between a surface of the reflector and at least one other part of the microwave structure with the gasket comprising the metallic material; and wherein  
       during operation of the lamp a microwave current maxima flows on a surface of the gasket and the reflector.  
     
     
       2. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 1  wherein: 
       each microwave source is rated at at least 1000 watts.  
     
     
       3. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 2  wherein: 
       each microwave source is rated at at least 2000 watts.  
     
     
       4. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 1  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise at least elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       5. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 4  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       6. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 5  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       7. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 2  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise at least elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       8. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 7  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       9. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 8  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       10. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 3  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise at least elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       11. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 10  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       12. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 11  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       13. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 1  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise stainless steel.  
     
     
       14. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 13  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of stainless steel.  
     
     
       15. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 14  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of stainless steel.  
     
     
       16. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 2  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise stainless steel.  
     
     
       17. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 16  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of stainless steel.  
     
     
       18. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 17  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of stainless steel.  
     
     
       19. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 3  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise stainless steel.  
     
     
       20. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 19  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of stainless steel.  
     
     
       21. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 20  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of stainless steel.  
     
     
       22. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 1  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       23. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 2  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       24. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 3  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       25. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 4  wherein: 
       themicrowave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       26. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 5  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       27. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 6  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       28. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 13  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       29. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 14  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       30. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 15  wherein: 
       the microwave gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       31. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 1  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       32. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 31  wherein: 
       the opposed parts are opposed walls of the microwave structure.  
     
     
       33. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 2  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       34. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 3  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       35. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 4  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       36. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 5  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       37. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 6  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       38. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 13  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       39. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 14  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       40. A microwave excited lamp in accordance with  claim 15  wherein: 
       the reflector is curved and has an axis extending along the microwave structure; and  
       the microwave structure comprises opposed parts and a pair of members extending along the reflector which are respectively joined to the opposed parts and to the reflector and for each member a pair of microwave gaskets respectively provide a microwave tight seal between the member and an adjacent one of the opposed parts and the member and a back surface of the reflector.  
     
     
       41. In a microwave excited lamp including at least one microwave source, a microwave structure comprising a metallic material to which microwaves are coupled from the microwave source, the microwave structure including a reflector comprising the metallic material and containing a microwave excited bulb which emits light in response to coupling of microwave power thereto from the microwave source, and at least one microwave gasket which provides a microwave tight seal between a surface of the reflector and at least one other metallic part of the metallic microwave structure, and wherein during operation of the lamp a microwave current maxima flows on a surface of the reflector and the gasket, the gasket comprising: 
       the metallic material.  
     
     
       42. A gasket in accordance with  claim 41  wherein: 
       each microwave source is rated at at least 1000 watts.  
     
     
       43. A gasket in accordance with  claim 42  wherein: 
       each microwave source is rated at at least 2000 watts.  
     
     
       44. A gasket in accordance with  claim 41  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise at least elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       45. A gasket in accordance with  claim 44  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consists essentially of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       46. A gasket in accordance with  claim 44  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consists of elemental aluminum.  
     
     
       47. A gasket in accordance with  claim 41  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket comprise stainless steel.  
     
     
       48. A gasket in accordance with  claim 47  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist essentially of stainless steel.  
     
     
       49. A gasket in accordance with  claim 48  wherein: 
       the reflector and the gasket consist of stainless steel.  
     
     
       50. A gasket in accordance with  claim 41  wherein: 
       the gasket comprises wire.  
     
     
       51. A gasket in accordance with  claim 50  wherein: 
       the wire comprises multiple filaments.